My Tucson Wedding

Scott and Diana were married on May 30, 2008 at Saguaro Buttes at 6:15 PM. They had a beautiful balmy evening, with a gorgeous sunset. Scott is in the Navy and wore his uniform, as did his best man, for the wedding and reception. A delicious meal of Tuscan Chicken, roasted potatoes, and steamed vegetables was served. Scott and Diana met in January 2006 at the Olive Garden where they both worked at that time. Scott and Diana will be moving to Florida as Scott will be stationed at Pensacola with the Navy.

Angelo and Kristena Bonet were married on May 25, 2008 at Saguaro Buttes. With beautiful weather and a gorgeous sunset they stated their vows to each other. They met for the first time at a New Years eve party on Dec. 31 2004. Both Angelo and Kristena had similar backgrounds, both had lived on the East Coast while growing up and then moved to the West Coast while in school.

Congratulations to Eric & Christina Pool, who were married at Saguaro Buttes on May 24, 2008 in a beautiful sunset ceremony. Pastor David Hallstrom performed the ceremony.

Gary Fletcher and Jennifer Culin were married on June 6th, 2008 at Saguaro Buttes. Gary is a local Attorney and Jennifer is a Para Legal and they have known each other for a number of years. June is a nice month for evening weddings in Tucson. The dry humidity and cooler nights make a romantic balmy evening for your guests as they gather on the outdoor patios during the evening’s festivities.

Another candy table at Saguaro Buttes for the wedding of JC and Stacy was on May 23, 2008. It had chocolate and vanilla flowers, M&Ms, malted milk balls, Red Hots, and Jelly beans to name a few. It also had plastic containers with the Bride and Groom’s name and wedding date on them as a favor for the guests to take home filled with their favorite candy. This table was a popular attraction before the dinner hour as the guests were mingling.

A wedding is one day, a marriage is a lifetime. Keep that in mind as you spend time preparing for that important day. I encourage couples to take some time in premarital counseling. We have been using a tool called, “Prepare-Enrich” by Life Innovations, at Saguaro Buttes. (www.prepare-enrich.com) Over 2.5 million couples have completed one of their couple’s interviews since it began in 1980. It focuses on 14 areas of significance in marriages and relationships, such as; communication, conflict resolution, financial management, spiritual beliefs, expectations, etc.

How it works.

Each couple is sent, through e-mail, a survey of up to 150 questions that they respond to separately. This generates a 15 page assessment which is used by the counselor when they get together. This is usually an enjoyable time and one that can open up some important discussions.

How much does it cost?

At Saguaro Buttes this is provided as a part of the wedding package. We are interested in helping your marriage be a success and believe this is one way that we can serve each couple.

How long does it take?

Each person answers the questions at their own pace. We usually spend one or two hours going over the results, after which we will have suggestions for follow up, resources, etc. to help each couple grow in their relationship.

How do I Sign Up?

Just let the wedding coordinator know that you are interested and provide the following information; names, both of your email addresses, wedding date, and select one of the following assessments. 1. Living separately 2. Living together or 3. Living together with children. Each separate category has it’s own assessment so it is important to choose the correct one.

Richard and Kasey were married June 7th, 2008 at Saguaro Buttes. They have known each other for over 8 years, and met at the TEP Ballpark where Richard was working security for the ball game. His first words to Kasey were “You are Trouble” as he noticed her in the grass area of the ball park. Richard has retired from the Air Force after serving 24 years and works currently for a local company. He also is a body builder and has been for over 20 years. It shows. Kasey had worked for Beaudry RV and loves doing public relations. June 7th is a significant date for this couple as it is not only the day that Kasey’s Grandparents were married, it is also the day that her Great Grandparents were married. On top of that it is also the birthday of Richard’s mother. Richard and Kasey love each other greatly, and look forward to many more years together.

One of the trends for weddings today is writing your own vows. It has been a trend for sometime, and I personally encourage it when I meet with couples. I think it helps them focus on their new relationship and not just the wedding day festivities. I like to add a twist to it though, since many couples don’t feel comfortable writing their own vows or reading those vows in public. I ask couples if they would write a paragraph to each other, on what they mean to each other, what they love about each other, and what they would like to say to each other on their wedding day. I ask them not to tell their fiance, until the wedding day. Then during the ceremony I have the couple face each other and I read what they have written to each other. I like it to be a surprise. This usually is one of the most touching parts of the ceremony. Not all the couples take me up on this but those who do seem to really appreciate it. One couple wrote about the circumstances that brought them together which were quite remarkable. They truly believed that it was God’s providence that brought them together. Another one wrote about their first date, and some of the humorous things that happened during that date. Others have written about those qualities that they most love and appreciated about each other. Some tell how the other person changed their lives, and completed them. Each one is different and unique in their own way, and it makes the ceremony very special and personal.

Saguaro Buttes offers a romantic ceremony site surrounded by beautiful various colored rose bushes.

Roses are a universal flower of love. I enjoy walking around the garden when the roses are all in bloom, the fragrance is wonderful.

Did you know that there is a meaning behind every flower? Flowers have a language all their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these fragile blooms. A leading Psychologist states “Flowers are a perfect replica of human life, planting, growing, blooming and withering.”

The language of flowers, called Floriography, is a Victorian Era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through “tussie-mussies” an art which still has a following today.

Victorian women elaborated on Floriography, expressing their feelings within the boundaries of strict etiquette. Flowers afforded them a silent language that allowed them to communicate many sentiments that the propriety of the times would not normally allow. This practice was especially popular amongst lovers. Also, anything that carried the scent of a particular plant, like a handkerchief, carried the same message.

A man could convey his feelings by having just the right flowers delivered to his lady the morning after a dinner party or dance. Is he trying to win his lady’s heart? Perhaps he’d send her Snowdrops for hope, decorated with Peppermint for warmth of feeling. Did he behave badly the night before, flirting with other women? He should send Field Lilacs for humility, or Brambles for remorse. Maybe he wants nothing more to do with the lady in question. Flowers can send a message of finality as well as affection. A striped carnation can mean refusal, while the York and Lancaster Rose declares war.

Here is a short list of some commonly used wedding flowers that you might consider using in your wedding.

• Red Rose = Love and Respect
• White Rose = Innocence and Secrecy
• Red and White Rose combined = Unity or Togetherness
• Rose Coral = Desire
• Rose Pale Pink = Grace, Joy
• Rose Yellow = Joy, Friendship
• Stock = Bonds of Affection
• Stephanotis = Happiness in Marriage
• Iris = Faith, Hope and Wisdom
• Calla Lily = Beauty
• Daisy = Innocence, Loyal Love, Purity
• Peony = Happy Marriage
• Smilax = Loveliness
• Lily of the Valley = Sweetness, Humility, Complete Life
• Ivy = Wedded Love, Fidelity

Saguaro Buttes is one of the most breathtaking reception areas around Tucson.

Surrounded by tall windows, you and your guests can enjoy the desert views and fantastic sunsets while dining.

We will help you pick your custom colors and settings to make it the wedding reception of your dreams.

Our son Eric and his wife, Leanna were married at Saguaro Buttes June 3, 2007.  Although we have helped orchestrate over 300 weddings, being part of the wedding ceremony personally was a treat. We are here to help you plan your Tucson wedding with experience both as an event coordinator and bride/groom. We know how to help alleviate the stress of planning your wedding. You can count on us to be here for you.

Everyone knows planning your wedding is stressful, so many details to think about, vendors to interview, guests to invite, and decisions to make. The important thing is to enjoy the journey. A few tips to alleviate stress:

• Keep a planner. Having one note book for all of your notes, receipts and contact information is great as this keeps everything in once place for easy reference.

• Manage your money. Set a budget with your fiancé. Knowing where you stand financially helps you stay focused, but also helps you decide where to save and when to splurge.

• Exercise - Take a Walk. Exercise not only ensures you’ll look great in your gown - it’s also a way to boost energy and relieves any anxiety you might be feeling.

• Delegate. Don’t ignore the offers of help from friends. Let you family and friends help with invitations, decorating or any one of the many tasks that take up your time.

• Make a date night. Don’t get so consumed with planning that you forget the reason you’re working so hard! Give yourself a night off with your fiancé.

• Don’t forget - get plenty of rest and eat right. This is one that we all forget to do but is probably the most important of them all.

If you do these few simple things while planning your Tucson Wedding you will do a lot to remove stress from what typically can be a stressful time. Enjoy the journey and your wedding.